All about BBC Good Food's Clean & Lean Diet Plan
A healthy diet should be balanced and followed all year round. This is a three-day, vegetarian and alkaline diet plan that serves two people and is designed to kick-start your healthy habits and help you to see the benefits of healthy eating quickly. The plan was written by Natasha Corrett, founder of Honestly Healthy, and overseen and tested by BBC Good Food's cookery team and nutritionist, Kerry Torrens.
What is an alkaline diet?
Natasha explains: ''Our bodies function at their optimum when our blood is at a pH of 7.35 on the pH scale. This is an alkaline state, whereas high acidity is gauged at pH 1 – remember the litmus test at school? By maintaining this alkaline state on the scale through the food we eat and drinks we consume, we can prevent a build-up of acid and keep our blood at that optimum pH.
If your system is overly acidic, you’ll be more prone to disease, lethargy, poor skin, insomnia, mood swings and all manner of ailments associated with a body that is dealing with stress. Taking away the stress of digesting large quantities of foods that are not good for you means your body can avoid an acid build-up and thrive in a more alkaline state.''
What to expect from these three days
Natasha says: ''An alkaline cleanse like this one gives your digestive system a well-earned rest, and helps your body to absorb the nutrients from food more efficiently while you are on the plan. Longer-term, this way of eating encourages weight loss, clearer skin, increased energy, better sleep, a stronger immune system, shiny hair and stronger nails.
This three-day plan is a gentle way to get back on a healthy track. The meals are low-calorie, but high in nutrition, so you shouldn’t need to add anything extra. However, if you feel energy levels flagging, you can have some of the alkaline-friendly snack suggestions that we'll send you with the plan''
How will you feel?
This plan is designed to give your new eating regime a kick-start – not to be followed long-term. As your body adjusts, you may get a few headaches, or feel irritable or fatigued, but this will pass. These side effects are a result of your body adjusting to fewer stimulants, like caffeine and sugar.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, you should check with your doctor first before you do any diet plan.
Please note the Clean & Lean newsletter is completely separate to BBC Good Food’s regular weekly newsletter.
All health content from BBC Good Food is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Any healthy diet plan featured by BBC Good Food is provided as a suggestion of a general balanced diet and should not be relied upon to meet specific dietary requirements. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.
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